For the first time in 15 years, we’re getting a new Mario Strikers! The third installment of the Mario soccer franchise, which debuted in 2005 with “Super Mario Strikers” for Gamecube, is set to debut on Nintendo Switch on June 10.
If you’re new to the game, the objective is pretty simple. You kick the ball into the net like you do in real world soccer except this time you’re using an assortment of Mario Cinematic Universe faves to deck opponents into fences, throw items like a banana to slip on or shell to crush the other team for a free shot at the net, and use power ups for automatic goals.
Stick with me.
See this is what got me in the trailer. In this edition, you can do a “team tackle” which here means Luigi punts Wario into oncoming traffic to take the ball from Waluigi. Genius!
Lol look at Mario. The helmets all improve different abilities like speed, strength, shooting and passing. I don’t even care what they do, I’m gonna pick the most embarrassing one for sure.
In what I can only call “golden snitch” vibes for Harry Potter fans out there, collecting the orb lets you do a (potentially, if timed right) ridiculous free goal. Here’s a screenshot of Luigi causing a tornado!?
Hence the “Battle Leagues” title. Up to 20 players can join, and you play against each other online.
Only 10 are available from the start of the game, but hopefully more will come in the future. They include: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Rosalina, Bowser, Donkey Kong, Wario, Waluigi, Toad, and Yoshi.